Sodium Phosphate News

-- Laxatives can have unpleasant side effects, especially when overused. The American Academy of Family Physicians says possible problems associated with laxative use include: Abdominal cramps or nausea. Gas, diarrhea or bloating. Electrolyte imbalance, which can affect the muscles, nerves and organs. Those most at risk include children and people with kidney disease or diabetes. Muscle weakness or muscle spasms. Fatigue, confusion, headache or vomiting. Read more

THURSDAY, June 11, 2015 – Many American children and teens aren't consuming enough liquids – especially water – and that lack of hydration could affect their physical and mental health, a new study suggests. The findings "highlight a potential health issue that has not been given a whole lot of attention in the past," study author Erica Kenney, a postdoctoral research fellow in social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard School of Public Health, said in a Harvard news release. "Even though for most of these kids this is not an immediate, dramatic health threat, this is an issue that could really be reducing quality of life and well-being for many, many children and youth," she added. One expert in child health agreed. "Children – due to their slower acclimation to heat and greater surface area than adults – can be more susceptible to dehydration than adults," said Nancy ... Read more

-- Painful leg cramps can happen to anyone, but tend to be common among seniors. The AARP recommends: Gently stretch and flex the leg to ease a cramp. Ask your doctor if a medication, such as a statin or diuretic, could be causing your leg cramps. Make sure your electrolyte levels are normal. Below-normal levels of potassium, magnesium or calcium could trigger leg cramps. Drink plenty of fluids. Make sure the covers aren't too tight on your bed. Choose shoes with proper arch support. Read more

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 – A new study suggests that the type of laxative a person takes might be a factor in their odds for colon cancer. The research indicates that fiber-based laxatives are associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer, while non-fiber laxatives are linked with a higher risk. The study could only show an association between laxative types and colon cancer risk, it could not prove cause-and-effect, and experts stress that more study is needed. Still, the researchers believe the findings are important because about 20 percent of Americans use laxatives. According to a team led by Jessica Citronberg, a predoctoral fellow at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, non-fiber laxatives are the most widely used in the United States and work by forcing the colon to contract. On the other hand, fiber-based laxatives boost the water content and bulk of the stool ... Read more

Marketed under the brand-name Fleet, and as store brands and generic products. [Posted 01/08/2014] ISSUE: FDA is warning that using more than one dose in 24 hours of over-the-counter (OTC) sodium phosphate drugs to treat constipation can cause rare but serious harm to the kidneys and heart, and even death. FDA has become aware of reports of severe dehydration and changes in the levels of serum electrolytes from taking more than the recommended dose of OTC sodium phosphate products, resulting in serious adverse effects on organs, such as the kidneys and heart, and in some cases resulting in death. These serum electrolytes include calcium, sodium, and phosphate. According to the reports, most cases of serious harm occurred with a single dose of sodium phosphate that was larger than recommended or with more than one dose in a day. For additional clinical information, see the FDA Drug S ... Read more

MONDAY, Jan. 28 – Some treatments are more effective than others for relieving constipation in seniors, according to a new review. And laxatives aren't always enough, researchers say. Constipation is common in seniors and can have serious health consequences and affect quality of life. Excessive straining in frail elderly people can cause them to faint and put them at risk of injury or falling, or restrict blood flow to the heart and brain. Chronic constipation can lead to fecal impaction, a large lump of hard stool that remains stuck in the rectum. Fecal impaction can cause nausea, pain and loss of appetite. "Given the growing proportion of older adults in North America, effective management of constipation by health care professionals will be increasingly necessary," Dr. Dov Gandell, of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, and colleagues wrote in an article appearing Jan. 28 ... Read more

-- Laxatives are medications usually purchased over-the-counter to help treat constipation. The American Academy of Family Physicians says side effects are rare if laxatives are taken as their labels direct, but sometimes they can trigger: Diarrhea. Nausea. Cramps. Gas. Bloating. Read more